Ben Foster on Ellen Page

Actors on Actors

“Ellen Page in ‘Juno’ embodies a flagship character for our generation. Juno, a 16-year-old girl, confronts her pregnancy and (the) future adoption with heartbreaking self-awareness and a ruthless sense of humor. A modern counterculture mishmash of teenage female identity, Ellen’s performance never winks at itself, even though the character compulsively does so. Watching her play is nothing short of astonishing. Lesser actors would rely heavily on the written quirks, whereas Ellen’s Juno fiercely honors the fragility behind them. She sacrifices herself in front of us, breath by breath, one liner at a time. It’s the kind of performance where the actor so seamlessly blends into her character that one has to question who came first.”